Geno Remo Zeni

Geno Remo Zeni passed peacefully on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at the age of 100 years old.  He was born on March 7, 1923 in Detroit MI and lived most of his life in this area with homes in Dearborn, Inkster, Livonia, and Canton.  He lived in Lakeland FL for 20 years during retirement, but returned to Michigan when he was 88 years old.

Geno contracted a virus at the age of 2 and was very sick with a high fever.   When he recovered, he could no longer hear, but that did not stop him from living a full and happy life. He attended the Detroit School for the Deaf as a boy and started the Ford Trade School at the age of 16. He began working at Ford when he was 18 as a Tool and Die Maker and worked there for over 40 years. He started at the Rouge Plant and later transferred to Livonia Transmission in the 60’s.

At the age of 25, Geno travelled to Pennsylvania with a friend to attend a Basketball Tournament for the Deaf, where he met the love of his life, Julie Zuzzi.   She was also at the tournament with a group of friends from New York and had lost her hearing at the age of 7 due to spinal meningitis. After a whirlwind courtship writing letters and with visits between Detroit and New York, they were married on June 4, 1949.   Their marriage has lasted for almost 75 years.

Geno and Julie had 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.   Catherine is their oldest child and has 2 sons, Brandon and Ashley. Dennis is the second born, married to Cindy, and they have 2 sons, Mario and Denny, and a daughter Christina (Josh) Duncan.   Robert is their youngest child, married to Cathy Lynn, and they have 2 sons, Brian (Stephanie) and Anthony (Michelle), and a daughter Cassie (Brian) Klemczak. Great grandchildren are Kennedy, Calvin, and Olivia Duncan, Christina’s children; Kenzie, Raelyn, and Marco Zeni, Brian’s children;  Audrina, Haven, and Ford Zeni, Anthony’s children; and Isla and Kellen Klemczak, Cassie’s children.

Geno enjoyed cruises and many wonderful trips all over the world. His travels included China, Africa, Europe, Cuba, many islands, and numerous trips to northern Michigan, out West, and several places from coast to coast.  He enjoyed fishing, camping, watching baseball, and the ‘Good Life’ in Florida.  He and Julie also enjoyed socializing with the Deaf Club in Michigan, and started up a Deaf Club in Lakeland, planning many activities and working in the office to assist and meet the needs of deaf members.  Geno was a presence wherever he went, sharing his jokes and banter with everyone he met.  He was loved by all and will be dearly missed.  We look forward to seeing him healthy and well again someday in a new and better life!

Friends may visit the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street, Plymouth, Michigan on Sunday, February 18, 2024 from 3:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.  A Funeral Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Sunday, February 18, 2024 beginning at 7:00 P.M.